exculpate

verb

ex·​cul·​pate ˈek-(ˌ)skəl-ˌpāt  (ˌ)ek-ˈskəl- 

exculpated; exculpating

transitive verb

: to clear from alleged fault or guilt

exculpation

ˌek-(ˌ)skəl-ˈpā-shən 

noun

Did you know?

There’s no need to say “my bad” if you’re unfamiliar with exculpate; while the word is far from rare, it is most often encountered in formal writing in reference to the clearing of someone of alleged fault or guilt, as in “they were exculpated of any wrongdoing.” You may be more familiar with a pair of terms that, like exculpate, come from the Latin noun culpa, meaning “blame” or “guilt.” One is the adjective culpable, used to describe someone deserving of condemnation or blame. The other is the Latin phrase mea culpa, which translates directly as “through my fault” and refers to an acknowledgement of personal fault or error that is more formal than, well, “my bad.”

Synonyms

• acquit
• exonerate

Choose the Right Synonym for exculpate

exculpate, absolve, exonerate, acquit, vindicate mean to free from a charge.

exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault often in a matter of small importance.

exculpating himself from the charge of overenthusiasm

absolve implies a release either from an obligation that binds the conscience or from the consequences of disobeying the law or committing a sin.

cannot be absolved of blame

exonerate implies a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any attendant suspicion of blame or guilt.

exonerated by the investigation

acquit implies a formal decision in one's favor with respect to a definite charge.

voted to acquit the defendant

vindicate may refer to things as well as persons that have been subjected to critical attack or imputation of guilt, weakness, or folly, and implies a clearing effected by proving the unfairness of such criticism or blame.

her judgment was vindicated

Examples of exculpate in a Sentence

The court exculpated him after a thorough investigation.

I will present evidence that will exculpate my client.

Recent Examples on the Web

In a perverse circular logic, the crime itself can come to seem like the clearest evidence of the condition that is held up to exculpate the mother—and also like its own form of punishment. —Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024

The results of that closer analysis is what were released Monday — and still ultimately exculpated Cline. —Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023

Now that Barry has accepted the death of his mother (Maribel Verdú) and successfully exculpated his father (Ron Livingston), the arc that has defined him on screen so far is resolved. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 17 June 2023

The justices could also require that prosecutors show that the defendant acted with criminal intent, which could also exculpate certain edge cases. —Matt Ford, The New Republic, 30 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin exculpatus, past participle of exculpare, from Latin ex- + culpa blame

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

exculpate

verb

ex·​cul·​pate ˈek-(ˌ)skəl-ˌpāt  ek-ˈskəl- 

exculpated; exculpating

: to clear from a charge of fault or guilt

exculpation

ˌek-(ˌ)skəl-ˈpā-shən 

noun

exculpatory

ek-ˈskəl-pə-ˌtōr-ē

-ˌtȯr-

adjective

Legal Definition

exculpate

transitive verb

ex·​cul·​pate ˈek-skəl-ˌpāt, ek-ˈskəl- 

exculpated; exculpating

: to clear from alleged fault or guilt

as time passed, however, the…rule, which barred the admission of other persons' confessions that exculpated the accused, became the subject of increasing criticism

—Lilly v. Virginia, 527 U.S. 116 (1999)

compare acquit, exonerate

exculpation

ˌek-skəl-ˈpā-shən 

noun

Etymology

Medieval Latin exculpare, from Latin ex- out of + culpa blame